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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) \u2014 A new Hallmark-style holiday film set against the fervor of Bills fandom blends romance, family mystery and a love letter to Western New York in \u201cHoliday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story,\u201d the movie\u2019s stars said in a recent interview with WROC.<\/p>\n
The film follows lifelong friends Gabe and Morgan, played by Matthew Daddario and Holland Roden, who grow up as neighbors in a pair of families defined by football devotion. Much of the story is rooted in local Bills traditions: tailgates, local food favorites and the boisterous community known as Bills Mafia.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the families\u2026 the backdrop of the whole film is taking place around two families that are obsessed with the Bills,\u201d Daddario said. The production leaned into regional touchstones, from tailgating culture to appearances by Bills players and staff, the actors said.<\/p>\n
The plot mixes a holiday romance with a decades-long family mystery: a Secret Santa who has left gifts for 50 years without revealing their identity. The mystery, and the characters\u2019 ties to a relative who raised them, provide the emotional core of the film.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy Uncle Tommy,\u201d Rodden said, referring to the character played by Joe Pantoliano, \u201craised us and really sacrificed a lot in his life \u2026 so there is definitely a giving aspect within a loved one, within the family at Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cast and crew also embraced on-set cameos from members of the Bills organization. Rodden described a down-to-earth atmosphere and memorable moments with players, including one anecdote about safety Damar Hamlin recalling a fourth-grade role in \u201cPeter Pan\u201d when asked about acting experience.<\/p>\n
The movie is set to double as a farewell to Highmark Stadium in its current form; the stadium\u2019s pending replacement figures into plot details.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the last year for Highmark that\u2019s relevant in the film,\u201d Daddario said, adding that the project felt \u201cserendipitous\u201d to celebrate the stadium and the region that helped shape the production.<\/p>\n
The stars said they attended a Bills game ahead of the film\u2019s release and soaked up the tailgating scene and fan energy.<\/p>\n